1999 Freightliner Century Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Century years
- Not enough data 3rd of 19 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 7 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Freightliner Century. That ranks 3rd out of 19 Century model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 17%). Complaints mention 1 fire. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 6owner complaints
- 7safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 Freightliner Century problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 Freightliner Century recalls (7)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension:front:hub
Problem: On certain trucks equipped with truck hub units manufactured by skf exclusively for use on arvinmeritor's ff98x series non-drive steer axles, the hub unit bearings can wear prematurely.
Risk: Seizure of the bearings can cause wheel separation or wheel end fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace both front hubs. Owner notification is expected to begin on or before september 20, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Problem: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with trw tie rod ends on certain meritor axles. The tie rod and drag link ball stud ends contain bearings that are below the specified case depth and/or hardness.
Risk: This can lead to premature wear with possible separation of the ball stud from the socket, increasing the risk of loss of control of the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will remove and replace all affected tie rods and drag links with different designed ends. Owner notification began november 8, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Problem: Vehicle description: trucks, school bus and motor home chassis, and transit buses equipped with tie rod assemblies manufactured by trw. The suspect tie rods contain 24-dl model ball sockets. Certain of the tie rod ball-socket bearings have a below-specification case depth and/or hardness, which can lead to premature wear of the socket.
Risk: If this condition occurs, the driver can lose partial control of the right front wheel, possibly resulting in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the defective ball sockets and/or drag links. Owner notification began may 22, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712 or trw customer service at 1-866-280-3287.
Service brakes, air:antilock
Problem: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks and school bus chassis built with bendix air abs with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ecu), there have been reports of unwanted abs activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed abs wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.
Risk: This condition could cause the abs ecu to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. This could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the abs ecu.
Suspension:rear:springs:air suspension system
Problem: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks built with dual leaf spring type air ride suspensions and vehicles built with single leaf spring type air ride suspensions. Rear suspension springs can fracture through the center bolt hole after vehicle assembly.
Risk: If undetected, the rear end of the spring could separate from the vehicle causing a hazardous road debris situation.
Fix: For vehicles equipped with single leaf springs, dealers will remove and replace all springs. For vehicles equipped with dual leaf springs, dealers will inspect for cracked springs and replace if cracked.
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Problem: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The tie rod ends can fracture due to low stress, high cycle, reversed bending fatigue resulting from a system resonance.
Risk: Loss of steering control could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the tie rod ends and tube assembly.
Suspension:front:hub
Problem: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The outboard bearing on the steering axle hubs can fail due to water intrusion through a hubcap vent.
Risk: This condition can result in a separation of the wheel.
Fix: Dealers will remove the hubcap and inspect for water intrusion and corrosion. The hub and bearing assembly will be replaced if there is evidence of corrosion. A non-vented hubcap will be installed.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Front brake air hose leaks (PE03005) — opened Feb 7, 2003, closed Aug 22, 2003.
- Integral hub and bearing assembly (PE02088) — opened Nov 22, 2002, closed May 1, 2003, led to recall 03E019000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
1999 freightliner century caught fire in the engine compartment. *kb ohio traffic crash report. *jb
Problem with reverse idler gear, bolt unscrewed on it own.. Discovered there iis a replacement kit redesigned to stop this problem from occuring but costs to repair is expensive
Consumer states that the front tires are wearing excessively and have to constantly be replaced. Consumer believes problem is due to defective tie rod ends. Related recall 01v140007, but consumer's vehicle is not included due to vin. *ak
Alarm for t air circulation kept going off. Dealer notified. Feel free to provide any further information.*ak
Fuel leak. *ak
Other Freightliner Century years
← 1998 Century · 2000 Century →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 Century | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 Century | 0 | 2 |
| 2011 Century | 0 | 9 |
| 2010 Century | 0 | 11 |
| 2009 Century | 0 | 12 |
| 2008 Century | 1 | 9 |
| 2007 Century | 0 | 9 |
| 2006 Century | 6 | 8 |
| 2005 Century | 2 | 2 |
| 2004 Century | 2 | 3 |
| 2003 Century | 4 | 2 |
| 2002 Century | 0 | 1 |
| 2001 Century | 4 | 4 |
| 2000 Century | 15 | 6 |
| 1999 | 6 | 7 |
| 1998 Century | 9 | 5 |
| 1997 Century | 4 | 4 |
| 1996 Century | 0 | 7 |
| 1995 Century | 0 | 2 |
See all Freightliner Century problems by year, every Freightliner model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Freightliner models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Freightliner Century?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, equipment problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Freightliner Century?
Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 Freightliner Century a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Century model years, the 1999 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.